Saving transportation costs

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A recent newspaper report, quoting a study sponsored by one of the multilateral capital donors stated that the Bangladesh economy can gain from 1.0 per cent rise in its total economic output and foreign trade by 20 per cent if the different modes of transportation only in the Dhaka-Chittagong corridor are made more efficient. They study also significantly revealed that the overall informal payments and other inefficiencies add up to 40 per cent to transport-related costs for imports in the country.
Thus, the case for streamlining the transportation mediums in this corridor, should be obvious. Not only in this particular corridor, similar transportation-related improvements and efficiencies need to be achieved throughout the country. The same will call for significantly adding to the number of transportation-related infrastructures, their maintenance and various supportive functions including also the elimination of the tolls and other man-made abuses.
Amirul Islam
Baridhara, Dhaka